Check-hook



(No Model.)

W. F. KNOWLES.

GHEOK HOOK. No. 454,361. Patented June 16,1891.

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

'yw/o o $26644 1? KVAQ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVILBUR F. KNOVLES, OF PITCHER, NE YORK,

CHECK-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,361, dated June 16,1891.

Application filed December 29, 1890, Serial No 376,177. (No model.)

To (6 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILBUR F. KNOWLES, of the town of Pitcher, in thecounty of Chenango, in the State of New York, have invented a new anduseful'Improvement in Cheekrein-Hooks, for securing checkreins ofharness and preventing the driving-reins from becoming entangled in suchcheck-hooks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in inserting a pin through a smallhole in the upper part at or near the point of the check hook andsecuring such pin with a spiral spring in such a manner that the pin maybe easily raised and the checkreins inserted or removed from the hook,and the pin when released from the hand will at once return to itsposition, closing the entrance to the hook and preventing the checkreinsfrom becoming detached or the driving-reins or other parts of theharness from catching or becoming entangled in said hooks.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will proceed todescribe its construction and operation.

I construct my check-hook with a shoulder or of extra thickness at thepoint Where the pin is inserted, as shown in the diagram at A, or thehook may be constructed in the ordinary or common form of such hooks, ormy invention may be fitted and applied to such hooks now in actual use;but in order to secure the checkreins therein and prevent other parts ofthe harness from becoming entangled thereby I make a small hole throughthe top at or near the point of the hook at A and insert a pin with anornamental or such other head as may be conveniently grasped by thefingers, as shown at B on the accompanying diagram. This pin I secure inits position by the small coiled spring G, the point of the pin restingin a small hole or depression in the lower part or shank of the hookshown at D on the diagram, and I secure the spiral spring upon the pinby a key passing through the pin just above its point, as shown at E,the result being that to adjust the checkreins the pin 13' is raised bygrasping it by the hand and pulling it up part way through the hole A.This movement compresses the coiled spring 0 and raises the point of thepin sufiiciently to allow of thecheckrein to be placed within the hookor taken therefrom as required. Then upon the pins being released fromthe fingers the coiled spring forces the pin down into its position,with its point resting and firmly held in the hole or depression at D,thus securing the checkrein from the possibility of becoming detached orunhooked, and at the same time preventing the driving-reins or any otherpartof the harness from being caught or entangled in said check-hook.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

A checkrein-hook having the enlarged and perforated end and the recessedbase, a pin having an enlarged head mounted loosely in said perforation,and the coiled spring encircling the pin and bearing against the underside of the enlarged end of the hook and against a projection 011 theend of the pin in the recess, substantially as set forth.

XVILBUR F. KNOWLES. Witnesses:

ENEUs FENToN, HASCALL R. HAKES.

